JPH0316559B2 - - Google Patents

Abstract

A modular unit 10 for constructing structural supports comprises an elongate member 12 and a link 14 extending laterally from the member. Castellations 28 are provided around a rim 26 at each end of the member so that the elongate members of similar units can be mated together. The link is made up of two struts 16 and 18 which are offset to one side of the elongate member and a flange 20 with bolt holes 22 is provided at the end of the link. Thus the links of two similar units can be bolted end to end to form a basic unit for use in constructing structural supports. Such a basic unit has two elongate members which are substantially parallel to each other and held apart and connected by the links. The invention also extends to an integral basic unit having such a configuration.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a basic unit combination type unit (hereinafter referred to as a module type) that can form a structure by combining a plurality of similar units.

In many support structures such as light towers, tower cranes, beams, architectural frames, supporting frames, arches and stages,
Problems have arisen in the handling and construction of these structures before and during erection. This handling problem is a result of the size and mass of the completed structure.

It is an object of the present invention to alleviate such drawbacks and to reduce the need for skilled labor that would otherwise be required for construction and assembly.

The present invention provides a modular unit for the assembly of structural supports. Each unit includes an elongate member having a mating end surface for mating with elongate members of a plurality of similar units, and a coupling means spaced from and adjacent the end of the elongate member. Consists of links extending horizontally from The connecting means connects the link end to end with the links of similar modular units such that the elongated members of the two modular units connected by the links are at least substantially parallel. It becomes an array to be concatenated.

The link member includes two struts extending laterally from the elongate member and abutting the coupling means. One strut extends laterally at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the elongate member.

The connecting means includes a flange provided with holes so that the flange can be bolted to a corresponding flange of a similar modular unit.
Preferably, the links are offset to one side of a plane passing through the longitudinal axis of the elongate member.

Preferably, the elongate member is a tubular member with a rim of increased external cross-section at each end. The rims have splines formed at 15° intervals on the mating surfaces.

The elongated member has an internal longitudinal passage configured to receive a tension rod capable of holding the mated units in a fixed position with respect to each other and/or through which electrical wires can be passed.

The invention also extends to a structural unit consisting of two elongated members having longitudinal axes that are at least substantially parallel to each other. The elongate members have mating end surfaces for mating with elongate members of similar structural members, the two elongate members being held apart and joined together by a link. This structural unit is formed by connecting two modular units.

The modular unit 10 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 consists of an elongated tubular member 12 and a triangular link 14 extending laterally from the member. Tubular member 1
2 and joined at a flange 20 remote from the tubular member 12.
and 18 form the triangular link 14. As best seen in FIG. 2, struts 16 and 18 are I-beams approximately half the diameter of tubular member 12. These struts 16, 18 are offset to one side of an imaginary plane passing through the longitudinal axis of the tubular member 12. A strut 18 extends perpendicularly from the tubular member 12.

The flange 20 has bolt holes 22 and semicircular notches 24 formed therein. The purpose of bolt holes 22 and notches 24 will become apparent later when the use of unit 10 is described. There is also a hole 25 perpendicular to the bolt hole 22. The end face of the flange 20 is provided with a mating group or the like for mating with a group of flanges 20 of another modular unit 10.

At either end of the tubular member 12 there is a zone of increased external cross-section forming a rim 26 at each end.
Around these rims 26 there are splines 28 to allow two similar tubular members 12 to fit together. The splines 28 are formed at 15° intervals to connect the links 1 of the two mated units 10.
4 are arranged in such a way that they can be oriented at different angles with a spacing of 0° or 15° from each other. Thus, in particular, the links 14 of the two mated units 10 are mutually connected.
They can be placed at 90° or 120° and cannot be mutually displaced once placed together. The utility and versatility of unit 10 is best seen in FIGS. 3 and 4. FIG. 3 shows a square beam 30 assembled from a number of modular units 10 as well as a few other components. The basic unit in forming the beam 30 is a basic unit 11 which is a combination of two connected units 10a and 10b. As will be explained with reference to FIGS. 7-9, such a unit may be provided as an integral unit if desired. The modular units 10a and 10b of FIG. 3 are bolted together by their flanges 20 to form each base unit 11. As such, a basic unit is provided having two elongate members substantially parallel to each other, the two elongate members being held apart and joined together by connecting links 14a and 14b.

Portion 50 of the beam is generally similar to portion 30 except that the elongate member of a base unit is joined end-to-end with the elongate member of another base unit.
is the same as

A C-shaped clamp 32 is proposed around the rim at the seam formed by the mating elongated members, so that the basic units are clamped together by the clamp 32 and bolted together at their flanges 20 to provide rigidity. , forming a powerful beam.

At the right end of the beam in FIG. 3, a special elongated member 34 is used so that there is a flush end of the beam which is rigidly fixed with an end strut 36. A special clamp 40 is used to accomplish this.

FIG. 5 shows the end of elongate member 12, end post 36 and special clamp 40. FIG. Clamp 40
A C-shaped clamp 4 is fixed to a spigot 44 extending vertically from the post 36 by a screw (not shown) and held by a clamp 46.
Consists of 2. The end of the spigot 44 and the end support 3
The ends of 6 are provided with rims (not shown) and these rims are provided with mating surfaces. Furthermore, the spigot is held to the elongate member 12 by another C-shaped clamp 43.

A similar device is used to connect the diagonal struts 48 shown in FIG. It can be seen that in this way, a square end with braces of the beam is formed.
However, it is also understood that such a built-up beam can be easily extended by joining it to another similar beam or even by fitting and bolting elementary units to the ends of the beam. Ru.

In FIG. 3 it is noted that the beam section 50 consists of double elementary units. This double elementary unit can be made because the links 14 are offset as shown in FIG. in this way,
Two basic units 11 can be stacked to create a double basic unit.

In section 50, it can be seen that the notches 24 (see FIG. 1) in the flange 20 of the modular unit 10 are adjusted to form a hole 52 with each other.
Thus, the dual basic unit can be further secured by bolting the unit 10 through the hole 52.

FIG. 6 shows another method of connecting modular units 10. Hole 25 of flange 20
A bolt (not shown) is provided that passes through the. Bolts and C-clamps 32 secure the modular unit 10 together.

Some of the foreseen applications of modular units 10 and basic units formed from these units 10 are described below.

Beams with different cross sections can also be assembled. For example, a triangular beam may be formed by positioning the links 14 of mated units at 60 degrees from each other. Also, by making some of the members 12 shorter than shown, short modular units can be added to structures such as those shown in FIG. Furthermore, by using a special unit 10 which is a combination of similar units but has a slightly shorter elongated member 12, arch-shaped structures can be assembled. Therefore, it is necessary to slightly change the shape of the spline 28 so that the corresponding units can be effectively fitted.

In certain applications it is necessary to reduce the total cross-sectional area of the beam. Such a reduction is achieved by providing a specially formed connecting unit that allows beams of different overall cross-section to be arranged in an interconnecting manner.

In some applications, tension cables or rods may be provided that run along the inside of the elongated members and are secured to the ends of structures such as beams to hold the elongated members 12 rigidly together.

In some applications, it may be desirable to use a C-clamp with a tension cable or rod. If a tension cable or rod is used, a tension cable guide is provided within the elongated member 12.

The foregoing links 14 may be other than posts 16 and 18, such as plates extending from elongated members. Conversely, two or more posts can be used to create a link. In general, the strength of each modular unit 10 is varied to provide virtually all required strength units according to the proposed application and the desired interconnection and arrangement of the units during construction of the structural beam. be able to. In addition to the selection of materials forming the modular units and the ability to rigidly join the units together to other units, such as 12, at various relative angles, there is a wide range of constructions to provide the necessary strength. Things can be assembled easily.

Although structural beams have been described generally, the modular unit 10 can be conveniently used to assemble masts and the like. In that case, the elongated member 12 shown in FIG. 1 would be fitted over another upper part to form a central pole. Links 14 therefore extend outwardly from this central pole and can be used as anchor points for connecting steps or items to the mast.

The basic unit 110 shown in FIG. 7 can be considered as the two modular units of FIG. 1 formed as an integral unit, but it consists of two elongated members 112a and 112b that are parallel to each other and of equal length. Elongated members 112a and 112b are joined by a single link 114. Members 112a and 11
The length of each of 2b is equal to half the total length of the modular unit. Each elongated member has its own ledge 1
18a and 118b and corresponding sockets 120
a and 120b, and the shaft hole 122 is the member 112a.
and 112b.

In Figure 8, the module type unit 1 in Figure 7 is
A triangular support structure is formed by connecting six 0's. Cables 124a, 124b and 12
4c pass through the shaft hole 122 and these cables are stretched and fastened at both ends so that a rigid structure is formed.

The modular units described above may also be used to form square or polygonal support structures. Each unit is individually sized to facilitate on-site erection of the structure and eliminate the need for lifting machinery commonly used in the erection and handling of such structures.

FIG. 9 shows that link 114 is connected to elongated member 112a.
and unit 14 connected at an obtuse angle to 112b.
Indicates 0.

The modular units described above may be made of various materials such as metal (particularly aluminum), concrete or plastic. These units can also be made by molding methods.

The modular units described with reference to FIGS. 1-6 are generally easier to assemble than the basic units described with reference to FIGS. 7-9, or may be formed by molding methods. is found to be particularly easy. In fact, the units shown in Figures 1 to 6 are similar to those shown in Figures 7 and 8, for example.
A mold approximately half the size of that required to form the basic unit shown in the figure is required.

Additionally, since one of the advantages of embodiments of the present invention is ease of assembly on site and transportation to the assembly point, the unit of FIG. 1 rather than that of FIG. 7 will generally be used where storage and transportation issues are important. It is desirable to create a modular unit as shown. Nevertheless, the ease of transport, storage and especially assembly makes the basic unit shown in FIG. 7 considerably superior to what is currently known for forming or assembling structural members.

The units described above are used in the formation of architectural structures and similar support structures. However, it is clear that the advantages of easy assembly, storage, and flexibility in making a variety of things are the same as a unit for making small models or for children's toys.

For example, in the same way that children play with building blocks and/or allow children or others to assemble models, the aforementioned units are provided in a form suitable for children to assemble support structures.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a modular unit according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is an end view of the modular unit shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a side view of a beam assembled from a basic unit consisting of two modular units each joined together. FIG. 4 is an end view of the beam of FIG. 3; FIG. 5 is a side view of a clamp used on the end of a beam such as that shown in FIG. 3; FIG. 6 is a side view of two modular units assembled in an alternative manner. FIG. 7 is a side view of another basic unit. FIG. 8 is a partial isometric view of a structure made up of the units shown in FIG. 7. FIG. 9 is a side view of the improved unit shown in FIG. 7; Explanation of symbols, 10...Module type unit,
11... basic unit, 12... elongated tubular member,
14... Link, 16, 18... Pillar, 20...
Flange, 24... Notsuchi, 26... Rim, 28
...Spline, 32...C-type clamp, 40...
...Special clamp, 48...Diagonal support.

Claims (1)

Claims: 1. an elongate member, each modular unit having an end surface suitable for mating with elongate members of a plurality of similar modular units; a link having a connecting means remote from the members and adjacent the ends thereof, said connecting means being such that the elongated members of the two modular units connect together whenever the two modular units are connected together; used in the formation of a structural support characterized by a configuration in an arrangement connecting the ends of said links with the ends of links of similar modular units so as to be at least substantially parallel to each other; Modular unit.